To Edmund Jenings

[dateline] Amsterdam April 3d. 1782

[salute] Sir

Last night I recd yours of March 31. inclosing a Receipt from some American Prisoners
for Money advanced them. Let me beg of you sir to Point out, in what Way, I may remit
this Money. I am ready to pay a Bill upon Sight, or to purchase a Bill here and transmit
it, whichever is most agreable.

The new British Ministry will only, plunge their Country into deeper Misfortunes if
they Spend time to negotiate a seperate Peace. It is not less extravagant and insolent
than the Project of Conquest entertaind by their Predecessors. America Stands, at
present upon so high Ground, that even the Continuance of the War, will be a Blessing
to her, if War can ever be called a Blessing. It will be a constant Source of Wealth
and Power. It cannot therefore be expected of her that she should abate an Iota of
her Pretensions.

Pray how do you like the Petitions from the Dutch Merchants and Manufacturers. They
appear to me to have given a Reputation to the American Cause, which will be an Increase
of strength and Power, equal to a great army or Navy. For one need not read Hobbes
to learn that Reputation is Power.

The Amsterdam Requite was drawn by my Friend Calkoen, tho he has admitted into it,
some Mistakes that of Leyden by My Friend Luzac, that of Rotterdam by my Acquaintance
Van Zoon of the Hague.1 But there is scarcly a City in the Republick which has not followed the Example.
You know Some of the Ploughing and hoeing and harrowing, which has prepared the Ground
you know Some of the seed that has been sown, and that it was Humphry Ploughjog• { 383 } ger2 who sowed it. But the Crop has exceeded Humphrys most Sanguine Expectations. Nature
almost allways has occasion for a Midwife you know. I wonder what may be the sentiments
of some People against whose Judgments, Exhortations and Warnings all this Mischeif
has been done. Will they deny, Sentiments which can be produced under their Hands?